Wheel suspension assembly

Abstract

A wheel suspension assembly 10 for use with a vehicle having a wheel 11. Assembly 10 includes a tie rod 12, a knuckle 14 having an integrally formed knuckle arm 16, and a ball joint 18 which rotatably couples the tie rod 12 to the knuckle arm 16. Tie rod 12 includes an outer end 24 having an integrally formed ball socket 26 and a pair of opposed and outwardly extending members 28, 30, which include a pair of orthogonally projecting foot members or “feet” 32, 34. Knuckle arm 16 includes an end portion 40 which is attached to a ball stud 44. Ball stud 44 is mated with socket 26 and cooperatively forms ball joint 18. End portion 40 includes a generally circular bottom surface 52 disposed in a substantially parallel relationship to “feet” 32, 34. Two resilient elements or “pads” 62, 64 are abuttingly disposed between “feet” 32, 34 and surface 52. Feet 32, 34, bumpers 62, 64, and surface 52 substantially prevent or reduce the angular movement of tie rod 12 about its longitudinal axis 74 and substantially dampen or reduce the transfer of vibrations from knuckle 14 to tie rod 12 between said ball socket 26 and said ball stud 44.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A wheel suspension assembly comprising: 
       a knuckle which is coupled to a wheel;  
       a ball stud which projects from said knuckle;  
       a tie rod having a longitudinal axis and a ball joint socket which rotatably receives said ball stud;  
       at least one member which is coupled to and which outwardly extends from said tie rod; and  
       at least one resilient member which is disposed between said knuckle and said at least one member, effective to limit rotational movement of said tie rod about said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim  1  wherein said knuckle comprises a generally flat mating surface. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim  1  wherein said at least one resilient element comprises a polyeurothane bumper. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim  1  wherein said at least one resilient element is generally “C”-shaped. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim  2  wherein said mating surface is generally circularly shaped. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim  1  wherein said at least one resilient element is further effective to substantially reduce vibrations emanating from said ball joint. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim  2  wherein said resilient element is coupled to said mating surface. 
     
     
       8. A wheel suspension assembly for use with a vehicle of the type having a selectively movable wheel, said assembly comprising: 
       a tie rod having a ball socket and a knuckle which is rotatably coupled to said wheel and which includes a ball stud which is selectively, rotatably, and receivably mated within said ball socket;  
       a pair of opposed members which are coupled to said tie rod, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of said ball socket, and which each include a top surface;  
       a generally flat bottom surface extending from said knuckle; and  
       at least one resilient pad member which is coupled to said bottom surface and which abuttingly engages said top surface, effective to limit the amount of rotation of said tie rod.  
     
     
       9. The wheel suspension assembly of claim  8  wherein said at least one resilient pad member is further effective to substantially dampen vibrations emanating from said ball socket and said ball stud. 
     
     
       10. The wheel suspension assembly of claim  8  wherein said at least one resilient pad member comprises a polyeurothane pad. 
     
     
       11. The wheel suspension assembly of claim  8  wherein said top surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
       12. A method for making an assembly that limits the amount of rotational movement of a tie rod, said tie rod having a longitudinal axis and being moveably coupled to a wheel supporting member by a ball joint assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
       disposing at least one outwardly projecting member upon said tie rod;  
       forming a mating surface upon said wheel supporting member;  
       providing at least one resilient element; and  
       disposing said at least one resilient element between said outwardly projecting member and said mating surface, effective to substantially limit the rotational movement of said tie rod about said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       13. The method of claim  12  further comprising the step of coupling said at least one resilient element to said mating surface. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim  12  further comprising the step of coupling said at least one resilient element to said outwardly projecting member.